Characterization of vinyl silane–treated areca nut woven fiber and bronze filler toughened polyester composite

Global warming and climate change condition are prevailing due to over exploitations of natural resources like fossil fuels, heavy metals, and dumping of wastages in open space. To bring solution to these less dense composite materials using waste biomass is now researched widely by scientists under various applications. The mechanical, tribological, wear, water absorption, and thermal conductivity properties of composite materials reinforced with bronze nanoparticles and areca fiber coated with vinyl silane are investigated in this research work. The novelty of this research study is to investigate how the composite’s characteristics were affected by the vinyl silane–treated bronze nanoparticle. Using a hand layup technique, the fabrication was cured for 24 h at ambient temperature and then post-cured at 120 °C. The AB2 (Areca fiber of 40 vol.%, Bronze nanoparticle of 3 vol.%) composite demonstrated stronger mechanical properties, including a tensile strength of 37.2%, a flexural strength of 22.4%, and an izod impact strength of 36.6% when compared to fiber- and matrix-reinforced base composite AB0 (areca fiber 40 vol.%, resin 60 vol.%, bronze nanoparticle 0 vol.%). In contrast, the AB3 composite displayed remarkable hardness at 84 Shore-D, outstanding wear resistance at 0.011 mm³/Nm, superior thermal conductivity at 0.212 W/mK, and excellent hydrophobicity at 0.12%. Further, when compared to the thermal conductivity of AB3 composite shows 34.2% higher than the thermal conductivity of base composite AB0. Similar such increase in values is attained in other composites compared to AB0 composite. Furthermore, vinyl silane–treated bronze nanoparticles are present in greater volume fractions in AB2 and AB3, which increase reinforcement inside the composite matrix and improve mechanical characteristics. The SEM (scanning electron microscopy) results corroborate that the vinyl silane treatment improved the bond strength of the fiber, filler, and resin. The reinforcement of vinyl silane–treated metallic nanoparticle and natural fiber reinforcement shows better mechanical, wear resistance, and thermal stability property which could be utilized in areas such as automotive, aerospace, defense, and structural applications.